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Published: November 17th 2016
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On 25
thMar 2016 we have started our journey for Nepal from Shah Jalal International airport through flight BG701; after little rough bumping experience we have landed to Kathmandu. In the airport I met my friend Dhiman that was a pleasant surprise for me. He traveled with us till Nagarkot.
In this trip we have planned mainly to explore Nagarkot and Pokhara, so from the airport we started our road trip with a Scorpio Jeep (that was pre hired).
On the way to Nagarkot we visited Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the plaza in front of the royal palace of the old Bhaktapur Kingdom, 1400m above sea level. It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the current town of Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaon, which lies 13 km east of Kathmandu. While the complex consists of at least four distinct squares (Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square and Pottery Square), the whole area is informally known as the Bhakapur Durbar Square and is a highly visited site in the Kathmandu Valley.
From Bhaktapur Durbar Square we straightway landed to Bhangeri Durbar Resort, Nagarkot.
The hotel is well
situated for good views of the mountains though it was cloudy when we stayed (not the hotel's fault of course).
I thought it was a well-designed hotel too with pleasant public spaces and all rooms with very large windows and a balcony (no need for such a big sign stating 'slide' on the do to the balcony). The room was OK but could have been larger so the comfy chair could accessed without climbing over on of the twin beds. The bathroom functioned well but was a little tired and due a revamp.
The 'welcome' was frosty as was the farewell but the service during dinner was hospitable and nearer the mark. Unfortunately the food - Russian salad, vegetable curry and rice - was gritty. It was as if the food had been prepared outside in the wind and dust of the dry season or at least windows in the kitchen were open. This aside, the food would have been good but the grit is the abiding memory. The tea was OK - Tokla brand tea bags - but I would have expected loose leaf tea in such a place.
Don't be misled by 'resort'
in the name of the hotel; I asked why it was called a resort and the very friendly and helpful head waiter explained it was because they had a conference hall. It's just a hotel. The wifi worked well in the room and the public areas.
On 26
th Mar we were supposed to enjoy early morning sunrise from Hotel with Himalaya view but the Holly Weather called a strike hence we hit the road for Pokhara after the breakfast.
On the way to Pokhara there is a place named Manakamana where we stopped for an amazing Cable Car ride. There was a temple on top of the hill but we rather focused on the downside riverbank restaurant for some drinks and lunch. Such an astonishing place it is and you won’t feel like moving your ass from that place! The food was also good at the restaurant. It’s a must visit spot for any tourist….
At night we reached Da Yatra Courtyard Hotel & Resort, Pokhara. We stayed two nights at this very nice hotel. Great location for walking into the downtown area. Breakfast food choices somewhat limited but adequate. We enjoyed our stay here.
At night we had our dinner at The Paradise Restaurant and Bar (Pokhara Fewa Lake Side). I liked the Long Island Ice Tea 😊
On 27
th Mar very early morning we were supposed to go to the Sarangkot, which is a sunrise view point but Anny, Zoheb and Ray were sleeping like dead; so I had to go there along. When I reached that point the dark environment totally made me scared and gave the feeling of a haunted hill! I had to clime quite a long height to reach the spot. I was sitting all along there in the dark for more than 25 minutes and then found 3 other German tourists joined me. We were waiting waiting and waiting but due to the heavy fog this time also we missed the Himalaya view 😞
Later I came back to the hotel, had breakfast. Same day we went out to check out some common tourist spots like Davis fall, Guptshwor cave, Seti George and Gorkha Museum. In the evening we came back to our hotel and walked beside the Fewa lake and enjoyed the staggering view.
On 28
th Mar after the breakfast we hit the road
again for Kathmandu. In the road we stopped over in a hilly restaurant for lunch but the most horrible part was a storm. In the evening we reached the Thamel area at the Hotel Arts Kathmandu. We were so tired that night so walked around the Thamel area only and had our dinner.
On 29
th Mar we went out for sightseeing at Swayambhunath and Patan Durbar square.
Swayambhunath, a journey up to the Buddhist temple and Unesco World Heritage Site of Swayambhunath is one of the definitive experiences of Kathmandu. Mobbed by monkeys and soaring above the city on a lofty hilltop, the ‘Monkey Temple’ is a fascinating, chaotic jumble of Buddhist and Hindu iconography. Even the 2015 earthquake failed to topple Kathmandu's best loved temple, though outlying buildings crumbled in the tremor.
Coming to Swayambhunath is an intoxicating experience, with ancient carvings jammed into every spare inch of space and the smell of incense and butter lamps hanging heavy in the air. The mystical atmosphere is heightened in the morning and evening by local devotees who make a ritual circumnavigation of the stupa, spinning the prayer wheels set into its base. It is a great place
to watch the sun set over Kathmandu.
Patan Durbar Square is situated at the centre of the city of Lalitpur in Nepal. It is one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of its attraction is the ancient royal palace where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided.
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